Franz Kafka Museum
Museum in Prague
Franz Kafka, one of the most influential writers of the 20th century, may not have written in Czech or considered himself traditionally Czech, but his identity is undeniably bound to Prague. Born into a German-speaking Jewish family in 1883, Kafka spent nearly his entire life in the city, wandering its streets, living in modest apartments, and drawing inspiration from the atmosphere of mystery, anxiety, and surrealism that pulses through its historic quarters. It’s only fitting that a museum dedicated to his life and legacy stands here, just a short walk from the Charles Bridge.
The Franz Kafka Museum doesn’t attempt a conventional biography. Instead, it plunges visitors headfirst into a world that mirrors the existential dread, absurdity, and bureaucratic horror found in Kafka’s writing. Through dim lighting, eerie soundscapes, and shadowy rooms, the exhibition space recreates the unsettling mood of stories like The Trial and The Castle. Glass cases house facsimiles of Kafka’s original manuscripts, first editions, personal letters, family photos, and other historical documents. A sense of paranoia and alienation lingers in the air—as if Kafka himself is still watching from the shadows.
Descending to the basement, things grow more surreal. Stark, expressionistic installations interpret some of Kafka’s most disturbing tales, including a haunting model of the torture apparatus from In the Penal Colony. It’s a space that leans into Kafka’s inner torment, reflecting his battles with isolation, illness, familial pressure, and the endless absurdities of modern life. While the museum might not suit younger audiences or casual tourists looking for light-hearted entertainment, for literature enthusiasts and Kafka admirers, it’s an atmospheric and intellectually stimulating journey.
Upstairs, multimedia exhibits dive into Kafka’s complex emotional world, pairing text, visuals, and sound to explore the writer’s deep sense of displacement and detachment. And just outside in the courtyard, David Černý’s irreverent sculpture ‘Piss’ adds a note of biting Czech humor: two animated male figures urinating into a pool shaped like the Czech Republic, writing out quotes with the stream. It’s playful, provocative, and oddly fitting—much like Kafka’s relationship with the city itself.
The Franz Kafka Museum appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Prague!
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Visiting Franz Kafka Museum
220,00 Kč
Nearby Attractions
- Charles Bridge (0.2) km
Bridge in Prague - Mostecká Street (0.3) km
Street in Prague - Old Town Bridge Tower (0.3) km
Bridge and Tower in Prague - Wallenstein Palace & Gardens (0.4) km
Palace in Prague - Jan Palach Square (0.4) km
Square in Prague - Lesser Town Square (0.4) km
Square in Prague - Museum of Decorative Arts, Prague (0.4) km
Museum in Prague - Clementinum (0.5) km
Historic Building in Prague - Church of St. Nicholas, Prague (0.5) km
Church in Prague - Villa Richter (0.5) km
Historic Building in Prague
